Those who moved away from home: what was your reason(s)?

[unamullian]

Just that really.

I've never moved away from my home town but my husband and I have decided that we just want to get out and start afresh somewhere else. We are moving 7 hours away (by car). I've already got a job offer and he is currently in the process of looking.

I'm not sure if anyone thinks my reasons are valid but mainly

1. I've no reason to stay. I don't have any friends except one but she always makes excuses when we plan to meet. I don't have anyone else who I see and talk to really except my parents who I talk to every day on the phone

2. better area and better educational prospect for my DS. I am also thinking of going back to college so I think that's another reason why.

What was your reasons and did you regret it? I'm a bit worried about the move but we have to do it. It's now or never!

I first moved away from my countryside town to London at 18 for uni. I wanted to study there because of the opportunity. Stayed there after I graduated.

DH and I then moved to the USA. London was very expensive, he missed home and I wanted to experience living internationally.

I haven't regretted either move. In fact, having done those I find I can very quickly feel at home anywhere and it's made me much more confident and resilient.

From what you've said moving sounds like it could be great for you- just jump in and see how it goes!

I went to university & met my husband. My career would have been impossible in my very rural part of the west country.

Moved to a different country at 18 for work.

Moved back to the uk, but nowhere near 'home' for the same reasons.

Moved where we are now for a better lifestyle for the children and countryside.

Went to uni, never went home. We moved from uni city for work, and then again to different area. We've never thought about moving to either hometown tbh, and would consider moving again for the right job

Depends who you leave behind though?
Easy if you have no family, but removing yourself from parents who are growing old and potentially preventing a close realtionship with potential grandchildren needs to be considered.

Moved 300 miles away for studies and never went back.

What about parents?

For those of you who are parents how would you feel if your children moved away and never came back?

Moved away to uni and after that I looked for what I wanted to do work wise and ended up in London, Paris and Tokyo at various points. Now settled in a UK city not too far from "home" -about 50 miles. Nothing for me where I grew up, too rural. But nice being not too far from my family once again.

I moved to London (then Herts, then Bucks) from Durham when I was 18. I loved it and eventually moved back when I was 37. I love being so close to the coast and the countryside and paying off our mortgage was a huge bonus, we couldn't have done that if we still lived in the South.
Having lived both in the North and South I can confirm that there are beautiful places and awful horrible places on both sides of the divide

Work
Uni,
To be near a loved one.
Nicer place to live.
More opportunities
Lots of reasons there are a few.

Moved away for uni, met do, stayed.

Moved away 30 years ago because that's where I could get a job. Feel Stuck here. Would like to be closer to family.

However I Expect/hope that DD will move somewhere else when finished uni, not to worry about me!

Grew up in America, moved 350 miles away from home to go to uni at 18. At 24 I moved another 1,000 miles away for DH's job. Then we moved 4000+ miles here to the UK, again for He's job. Cannot see myself ever going back, and am continually amazed at the sheer number of people who never, ever venture outside their hometown bubble. It's a big world out there. I'd move home only if my parents needed me--only child :(

We stayed where we met (university). He was from oop North, I was from down South, so we stayed in the midd so as not to pee off either set of DPs and we're quite lazy

I moved 60 miles for Uni, then 200 to London post Uni. Europe with my job, US with H's job then back to UK and 180 miles from 'home' for ten years.

I moved to within 30 miles of my family home at 48, always knew I wanted to be able to see my parents more in their old age and wanted to be close to my siblings. So pleased I managed it.

I moved from outer London to the south west at 55 - my dh was selling his loss making business (with lots of goodwill) and taking semi-retirement, we had paid off the mortgage and needed to get dd away from a secondary school where she was being bullied. We left 2 adult sons and my parents behind but we knew it was what we had to do because we could no longer afford to live in the south east.

We have been here for 13 years, dd is grown up and married with a child of her own and my parents have died but I was able to visit frequently in the last few years of their lives and know that we made the right decision.

two word:
job prospects

grew up in country side far away from any higher education and jobs that pay a decent wage unless you are a drug dealer

Moved at 20 for uni, only 50 miles. Met dp, four kids and 20 years later I'm still here. Being honest I wish I lived closer to my mum and sister.

If the kids want to move away that is their choice . They have to live their lives and I will always visit.

Moved to London at 17 to get away from my family as I knew they would end up disowning me anyway. I knew a few people in north London who would be able to offer me a sofa to sleep on, I didn’t really know anyone anywhere else.

Now as a 31 year old I’m still here, but thankfully no longer living on a mates sofa!

Nothing keeping me there and rent and cost of living was too high. I don't regret leaving but I do regret choosing where we did. Only picked here because some friends lived in this area and they've since moved abroad. Our current area is awful and we're making plans to leave here next summer. Nothing keeping us here at all.

Neither DH or I are particularly tied to an area and our families and friends are all over the country and the globe really. So we're not fussed to stay in 1 place.

I couldn't wait to get away from home, hated living with my parents. I'd have left at thirteen had I been able! I haven't lived very far away though, sufficient just to have my own place where no one could come unless I wanted them to, no nagging and complete privacy.

We're planning a similar move at moment OP and for similar reasons. It's scary

Home doesn’t mean you like it though does it? I’ve no fond memories of my hometown, I left at 17 thinking it was closed minded and at 53 when I return to visit family I still think that. It doesn’t suit me and I never felt at ease there.

7 hours is a lot and it sounds like you have a close relationship with your parents if you speak every day. How do they feel? What about if you have kids? Lots of people post on here about having no family support. Do you have siblings? What if your parents need help as they get older?

Sorry just realised a) you already have kids and b) you didn't actually ask about whether the decision was the right one!